e-Gaming and EdTech in the Middle-East

Marhaba International
May 23
2 min read

FROM A PARENT: eGaming and EdTech — Shaping the Future of the Middle East

I truly enjoyed yesterday’s discussion on the future of eGaming and EdTech in our region. But as I sat there, I realized I wasn’t just participating as a legal professional advising clients on digital trends and regulations.

I was there as a parent.

A parent who didn’t grow up with Minecraft in math class.

A parent whose children are navigating a world filled with esports, AI-powered tutors, and game-based learning. A parent who is asking: How can we guide this generation without fear, but with responsibility and vision? eGaming is not just “gaming.” It’s strategy, teamwork, fast decision-making.

EdTech is not just apps. It’s personalized learning, accessible education, and in some cases — equal opportunity.

As professionals, we talk about regulations, growth, markets.

But as parents, we ask different questions:

✨ Is this safe? How we control the screen time? What would a psychologist or orthopaedic doctor say when the kids spend hours and hours in front of the screen?

✨ Is it meaningful?

✨ Can this digital tool shape good character?

And the truth is — it can. If we stay involved, informed, and intentional.

eGaming and EdTech - Let’s be honest — we can’t ignore eGaming anymore. It’s not just “screens” or “wasted time” like it may have seemed years ago.

eGaming is definitely here and bigger than we thought. Whether we like it or not, our children are growing up in a world where strategy games, esports, and educational platforms are a normal part of learning and socializing. And that’s not necessarily a bad thing.

In our own childhood, we never had the chance to learn math through Minecraft, or explore history through Assassin’s Creed Discovery Tour, or practice coding in a Roblox workshop. Our kids do.

Can that screen time turn into learning? Creativity? Collaboration? Sometimes it can — and does.

On one side, we see eGaming evolving into a billion-dollar industry. From Riyadh’s record-breaking Gamers8 festival to Dubai’s growing esports infrastructure, the region is making bold moves to position itself as a global gaming powerhouse.

In parallel, EdTech is accelerating, transforming how the next generation learns. Initiatives like the UAE’s AI curriculum for children,KSA’s digital education platforms, and homegrown startups like Abwaab and Classera are reshaping education across the Arab world. The question is, who will regulate it?

What excites me most is the intersection of these two worlds:

🎮 Game-based learning

AI tutors in Arabic

Metaverse classrooms

Gamified skill development

The future is immersive. The future is smart.